1. (NU) - The past 18 months
shook up state education com-
munities preparing students to
earn a high school equivalency
certificate. With some states
dropping the old test for new
ones, states choosing to have
multiple options, and the imple-
mentation of College and Career
Ready (CCR) standards, the land-
scape drastically changed in a
short period of time.
Here’s what educators and
those looking to achieve this ed-
ucational milestone should know
about the past year and a half.
1: 2014 marked the first
year in U.S. history that alter-
native tests were used by states.
Twenty states administered al-
ternative tests after choosing to ei-
ther drop the GED test within their
state or offer multiple tests for stu-
dents to choose from. The HiSET
exam developed by Educational
Testing Service and theTASCTest
Assessing Secondary Completion
by CTB/McGraw Hill allow those
who haven’t completed high
school the opportunity to earn their
high school equivalencies.
Introducing numerous brand-
ed tests broke conventional terms
and understanding of how people
actually go about earning a high
school credential.
2: People are learning you
don’t “get a GED.”
Employers, education admin-
istrations and institutions of high-
er education incorrectly ask
whether an applicant has his or
her “GED.” Having proof of a
high school credential is essential
for many careers and postsec-
ondary education opportunities.
However, the GED is a test -- not
something earned.
HiSET, GED andTASC scores
are mobile, meaning they can be
used for employment and college
applications throughout the Unit-
ed States. Test takers now have a
choice as to what test they choose
to take based on various categories
such as price or whether the test is
available in paper- and/or com-
puter-delivered formats.
3: The results are the same.
All three tests measure high
school equivalent skills, and
each has implemented CCR
standards. Whether one takes
the HiSET, GED or TASC test,
the end result when passing
these tests is the individual earn-
ing a state-issued credential. For
example, in California, a student
can take either test and earn the
California High School Equiva-
lency Certificate when passing
each test’s subject areas.
The trend toward alternative
testing shows no signs of slowing
as more states consider new test
options and vendors in the near fu-
ture. Options in how one earns a
high school credential have
changed, but the outcomes are the
same -- increasing one’s ability to
achieve a more secure future by
reaching this education milestone.
What We Have LearnedAbout
High School Equivalency
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